About Well Pumps

Types of Energy Well Pumps Use

Well pumps can use many different energy sources for power. Below, you'll find a list of just a few:

Utility Power - Standard utility-powered well pumps which run on alternating current (AC) are commonly used. They pump many more liters per minute than alternative energy pumps, and are less expensive.

Solar Power - Although initially expensive, solar well pumps are well suited to pumping water. Solar pumps work anywhere the sun shines. When it's cloudy however, they pump less water. In a solar pump system, photovoltaic (PV) panels are set up which capture the suns rays. These rays are converted into direct current (DC) which powers the pump.

Wind Power - Bowjon pumps use compressed air to pump water, and require very little maintenance. Wind generators may also be use to power submersible well pumps. These aren't residential-scale systems however, and are mostly used for large agricultural projects, or village pumping systems in underdeveloped countries.

Water Power - As surprising as it may seem, you can actually use water to pump water. Ram pumps are powered by your local stream's water pressure. A flow of water is started down the pipe and then is shut off suddenly. The resulting pressure surge from the momentum of moving water slamming to a stop sends a little squirt of water uphill. How much of a squirt depends on the pump size, the amount of fall, and the amount of lift. Higher Lift pumps use a large piston at low water pressure that pushes a smaller piston at higher water pressure. High Lifters recover a much greater percentage of the available water than ram pumps do, but they require greater fall into the pump generally. This makes them better suited for more mountainous territory.